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Saturday, November 25, 2017

Left-Wing Letters to 'The Age' and the 'Herald-Sun'

What follows are another series of Left-inclined 'Letters to the Editor' I have sent to 'The Age' and 'The Herald-Sun' between July and November 2017. Subjects include everything from 'Cultural Marxism' to 'Bracket Creep' and the Australian Welfare System.

PLS feel welcome to discuss.

Only a few of the Letters were Published ; but I'm hoping consideration of the content here will justify the effort put in to writing the material

Capitalism and the Threat of Destitution

David Penberthy writes as if homelessness and destitution have nothing to do
with capitalism. (Activists no help to the homeless, 13/8/17)Unfortunately this is not the reality. Under
capitalism most people do not own significant stakes in businesses
themselves.They have no choice but to
sell their labour power to capitalists in order to survive.In this system average workers can be
‘disciplined’ (kept in line) by the threat of sinking into a class of working
poor.And the working poor in turn are
‘disciplined’ by the threat of destitution ; sinking into an underclass of
destitute and homeless.This is actually
functional for capitalists seeking to depress wages and conditions.The situation is further worsened by
‘punitive welfare’. Benefits are low ; often below that sufficient for
subsistence. (scraping by)Savings must
be exhausted to acquire Newstart. Workers’ bargaining power evaporates under
these circumstances.Also emergency
housing, welfare and so on cost money. But even Labor governments are
continually under pressure to deal harshly with the unemployed ; to cut
spending in order to make room for corporate tax cuts and so on.And attempts to ameliorate the condition of
those affected is branded “class warfare”.

What are Shorten’s
Tax Plans in Reality?

The Herald-Sun is waging a campaign against what it argues
will be an increased tax regime under Bill Shorten. But so far Shorten’s proposals
are in fact too modest. Reform of Trusts will bring in maybe one sixteenth
of one per cent of GDP. (approximately $1 billion a year out of $1.6 trillion)Negative gearing reforms will bring in a
similar amount. Contra the Herald-Sun,
these reforms will tend to bypass low to middle income earners. Apart from this
the Herald-Sun is emphasising Shorten’s resolve not to deliver Turnbull’s $65 billion
corporate tax cut over 10 years.The
problem is that when you cut taxes this way it has to be made up for
somewhere.So corporations get a
windfall – but Medicare might be ransacked for cash. To get a sense of
proportion – it would take perhaps $400
billion in new taxes to bring in enough money to pay for a Swedish-style
welfare state!But if Shorten devoted an
additional 2% of the economy ($32 billion) in a first term to reform of Health,
Aged Care, Education and Social Security – surely thatwould be a reasonable measure from which most
people would benefit.

Bolt’s Double Standards on Liberties

Andrew Bolt (August 24th) argues against what he
says is a ‘totalitarian’ Left.But if
Bolt is to adopt the cause of liberal rights let him do so without
hypocrisy.Let’s see if Bolt is willing
to support rights of speech, association and assembly - without punitive laws,
and without the dispersion, vilification and criminalisation of protest
movements such as that once associated with the “We are the 99 per cent” cause,
occupations against homelessness and so on.Once the consensus on liberal rights breaks down everyone is potentially
at risk.Both Left and Right need to
avoid double standards on liberal rights ; and that includes “celebrities” such
as Andrew Bolt. Meanwhile attempts to shut down councils wanting to change the
date of Australia Day celebrations – suggests a Federal Government which is not
serious about reconciliation with Indigenous Australia.

Refuting Bolt on
Welfare

The Herald-Sun (27/8) editorialises that “Welfare is Not a
Right” and advocates a crackdown against the unemployed especially.But at the same time provides scant room for
the expression of the contrary view: that Australia already has one of the most
punitive and austere unemployment regimes in the developed world.Instead, the Herald-Sun ought argue for the
kind of labour market and industry policy regimes that exist in Denmark.This requires many billions to work ; but the
returns in terms of the creation of more high-wage jobs – pitched to workers’
skill sets – makes it a price worth paying.Meanwhile Newstart could do to be increased by a minimum $1000/year, indexed.Job-seekers who cannot even afford transport,
decent clothes or internet already have little chance of finding work.Newstart provisions (introduced under the
Turnbull Liberals) forcing job-seekers to exhaust much if not all of their
savings before receiving support also need reconsideration. Where’s the
incentive to save when losing your job could cost you everything?

Labor’s
Modest Tax Agenda

Chris Bowen is laughing off claims by Scott
Morrison that Bill Shorten is promoting a ‘socialist’ agenda.In reality,
Bill Shorten is talking about very moderate
tax reforms that so-far will struggle to raise $4 billion a year. Or roughly one quarter of one per cent of GDP.But there's a problem with such suggestions being
“laughable” as well.And that Labor has
come to depend on such claims being laughable. Cert...ainly
Labor are not outwardly democratic socialists. That applies probably to most
Labor MPs 'internally' as well. But the Libs win by default if Labor is too
scared to talk about democratic socialism, redistribution, economic democracy,
social wage and welfare reform, industrial rights, public ownership and so on.
For instance, Labor should be aiming to match the OECD average on tax (roughly
34% of GDP) and associated social expenditure
over several terms. In order to fund reform of education, health, aged care,
infrastructure, welfare and so forth.If
Labor 'wins' on the Liberals' terms then the Liberals win anyway - through
Labor’s internalisation of their economic and social assumptions and values.
Even if Labor achieves government, under those circumstances Labor (and the
people Labor represent) lose.

The Truth about the ‘Luddites’ has Lessons for us Today

Rosemary Tyler (Letters,
10/9) mentions the ‘Luddites’ and their response to the Industrial Revolution,
comparing them to those who resist Clean Energy today.But there are important differences.The Luddites were not just ‘mindless wreckers
of Progress’. They were largely skilled crafts-people who were resisting
‘proletarianisation’ and the de-skilling of their industries.They were forced from their homes ; compelled
to be wage slaves in dangerous factories ; reduced to bare material
subsistence; compelled to suffer 12 hour days and worse.They lost creative control over their labours
and their labour’s products. The capitalism of the Industrial Revolution
created a foundation for economic and scientific progress ; but it often came
at a terrible cost.Today, also, modern
capitalism rests upon the brutal exploitation of ‘peripheral’ economies such as
in Bangladesh ; but also often the exploitation of working poor within the
‘first world’ itself.Privatisation is
arguably the main driver of the current energy-affordability crisis ; But if
re-socialisation is not considered an option (it should be!), other measures
must be taken to ‘immunise’ low income workers and pensioners during the
transition to renewables and beyond.

Turnbull ‘Asleep at
the Wheel’ on Energy

David Ingliss (Letters, 25/9) writes that the “electricity
crisis” is the result of “rabid Green ideology”. Let’s get some things
straight, though.The current
Conservative Government has had years to prepare for the closure of coal-fired
plants such as Hazelwood. It’s Turnbull who has been “asleep at the wheel”.
Also global warming is not an “Ideology” ; it’s a scientifically-verified
environmental crisis and not necessarily to do with political values. Hence our
response SHOULD be bipartisan. Further, if energy had not already been
privatised the decision on what to do with the old energy infrastructure (and
when) would have been the choice of governments.Instead it’s out of our hands. If we had kept
the old SECV which Ingliss refers to in public ownership arguably energy would
be cheaper, and battlers would receive cross-subsidies.Instead privatised or corporatized energy
production and distribution – combined with shrinking economies of scale (as
those who can afford to switch to micro-renewables) – means‘battlers’ are left with a spiralling cost of
living.

Privatisation and Tax
Cuts a ‘Two Edged Sword’ at Best

The Herald-Sun (27/9) proclaims the headline “Budget Repair: Nation $4.4
billion better off”.And Scott Morrison
has been boasting the Coalition Governments ‘success’ in bringing government
spending down to 25% of GDP.But do
lower levels of government expenditure on services, infrastructure, and social
security really improve our ‘national well-being’?By
contrast government spending in Sweden is at approximately 52% of GDP.(A $400 billion difference if translated proportionately
to the Australian context)The
difference is that in this country we have User Pays in everything from Aged
Care to Higher Education – which hits those on lower incomes especially hard.While the Conservatives provide ‘corporate
welfare’ with tax cuts valued at about $60 billion over a decade, we treat the
unemployed like criminals and allow barely enough (or not enough) for them to
subsist and effective search for work.We neglect state education by comparison ; and we are forced to opt for
private provision of infrastructure – which ends up costing consumers AND
business more in the end.

Coal Seam Gas a Risk

The Herald-Sun (27/9)editorialises “Drop ideology and drill” : directing its attention
squarely at Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews.But Coal Seam Gas drilling has extreme risks
– such as water contamination and contamination of land.These risks have nothing to do with
“ideology” ; and neither does the need to reduce carbon emissions in the face
of a virtual scientific consensus on global warming. Also energy plants like
Hazelwood have shut down – increasing the risks of an energy shortage -
something governments were left with no control over as a consequence of past
privatisations.Hazelwood had to close
sooner or later : but under public ownership could have continued until the
State was ready for the transition.Finally, Australia has ample reserves of gas without resort to coal seam
gas (fracking) but the Conservative Government has not properly regulated the
industry ; meaning this gas could be exported while at home we experience
black-outs. Knowing all this it is Malcolm Turnbull who has been “asleep at the
wheel on energy policy” for years ; and now is interested in blame shifting.

The Truth about ‘Cultural
Marxism’

In responseto Dr
Andrew P.Retsas (3/10/17) : while it’s true that Marx has nothing to do with
many modern discourses on sexuality, some interpretations (eg: from Engels on
‘The Origin of Family, Private Property and the State) emphasise the potential
of communal social solidarity and organisation compared with dependence on the
monogamous nuclear family.But the
reality is that the vast majority of Marx’s work is to do with the struggles of
workers to overcome exploitation and oppressive working conditions ; and enjoy
opportunities for personal growth through engagement with philosophy, science,
art, music and so on.Critiques of
‘cultural Marxism’ ignore this, and try and use Marx as a ‘bogey’. Marx wants
workers’ freed from the oppressive conditions of existence and labour – which
in certain ways still prevail today.Some seeing themselves in the Marxist tradition (eg: some from the
‘Frankfurt School’) lost faith in the working class, so instead looked to
racial and sexual minorities, students and women. (for instance Herbert Marcuse
in ‘One Dimensional Man’ (1964) But the Heart of the original Marxism is still
the self-liberation of working people ; and “From each according to ability, to
each according to need” as a doctrine of liberation, human solidarity and
justice.

Education must Support Democracy

Anthony Gilchrist complains that “the socialist left
has…infiltrated the education system” (Herald-Sun, 12/10) . A few points in
response.Firstly, education should
support democracy.That ought mean
political literacy and support for active citizenship. That does not mean
‘indoctrinating’ with one doctrine or another ; but preparing students to make
their own free decisions in a democracy in keeping with their interests and
their adopted value systems.Socialism
has a place here, as do liberalism and conservatism.A strong democracy means pluralism (ie: real
choices) and not just ‘convergence politics’.What Gilchrist calls “victim” politics might simply be citizens speaking
up for their rights and interests in a democracy.If we never questioned injustices, indigenous
Australians and women would never have gained the vote.And workers would never have achieved the 8
hour day.

Stop Vilifying
Vulnerable People on Welfare

The Herald-Sun (23/10 ‘Trillion Dollar Handout’) is developing
a pattern of effectively vilifying vulnerable people in the context of attacks
on Australia’s already threadbare welfare system.In reality the lion’s share of the welfare
system is taken by the Aged Pension. (which funnily enough the Herald-Sun
rarely talks about) Meanwhile for the vast majority unemployment benefits, disability
payments and so on are ‘social insurance’ which ALL of us pay for via our
taxes. Instead of vilifying the vulnerable we need an industry policy which
actually facilitates the creation of decent jobs.(as opposed to driving the car industry out
of the country as the Coalition Government has done) And given activity tests
already exist for Newstart there is no excuse not to raise the payment
significantly: in part to support people as they search for work ; during which
they need access to decent clothes, transport, internet access and so on.Further, if the Herald-Sun wants to break the
‘dependency cycle’ and ‘poverty cycle’ it should agree to greater support for
sole parents and low-income families ; and provide greater scope for Disability
Pensioners to escape poverty traps by engaging in flexible work without losing
a very significant part of their payments via means tests.When those with a serious mental illness are
dying on average 25 years younger than other Australians they are not ‘having
us on’ or ‘rorting the system’.See:http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-09/schizophrenia-lowers-life-expectancy-by-25-years/4680580

All the Usual Complaints
from the Right on Socialism

Tom Elliot (27/10)makes all the usual complaints about socialism that you hear from the
Right. But what is socialism really meant to be? I wrote my PhD on this topic
so I have a clue.The totally-reasonable
principle underpinning Marx’s philosophy was ‘from each according to ability,
to each according to need’.What is more
Marx believed in achieving abundance and recasting the division of labour so every individual had the opportunity to
engage in science, art, philosophy, popular culture and so on.Everyone has the right to personal growth and
fulfilment. This – and Marx’s passion for extending democracy across the
political and into the economy – is what distinguishes him so clearly from
those who abused his name ; using it to justify totalitarian regimes.Countries – such as Sweden and Denmark – who
have advanced socialist principles to some extent – have also enjoyed
prosperity, equality, full employment and happiness.We need a genuine pluralism in this country
where democratic socialism is part of the debate.

More on ‘Cultural Marxism’

Chris Zappone (The Age, 13/11) is right to be critical of the widespread
condemnation of ‘cultural Marxism’ by people who don’t really even know what
Marxism is.In fact many Marxists were extremely
concerned about ‘the cultural turn’ from the 1970s onwards ; with the embrace
of ‘identity politics’ and the abandonment of themes of class struggle,
economic justice and of the promotion of a democratic socialist economy. On the
other hand the intellectual movement began by Adorno, Horkheimer and others was
real, and is still real.But it is very
diverse ; and attempts to brand it as some ‘homogenous’ entity comprise
something of a moral panic.Adorno and
Horkheimer especially were despairing of the prospects for socialism in an era
of totalitarianism ; but they also critiqued popular culture in the West as a
medium of social control.Later critical
theorists like Jurgen Habermas were more hopeful ; and Habermas promoted a
theory of ‘communicative action’ which supposed a progressive consensus may be
possible through dialogue. Contrary to right-wing assumptions about ‘critical
theory’ Habermas was decidedly within the Enlightenment tradition.

Kevin Donnelly is
Wrong on the English Curriculum

Kevin Donnelly (HS, 16/11) again takes the English curriculum
to task, accusing it once more of left-wing bias. But the modern English curriculum is about
more than spelling and grammar. It is about communication life skills which
empower students, including the critical analysis of texts.This need not involve a bias towards the Left
or Right.It is about comprehending and
criticising the assumptions beneath texts of both a Left or Right-wing
inclination ; and also those which don’t fit within that framework.The
modern English curriculum is also about encouraging students to develop and
express opinions. Again, this need not involve a prejudice towards the Left or
the Right.But it does empower students
to make informed commitments on social issues , and to express their associated
beliefs effectively. There are some Conservatives (but not all I’d argue) who feel
threatened by this.

Tax Cuts, Corporate Welfare and Bracket
Creep

The Herald-Sun (20/11) editorialises in favour of tax cuts
to compensate for bracket creep. A few points in response.Bracket creep tends to flatten the income
tax system over time ; to make it less progressive.But tax cuts emphasising the upper end can
also exacerbate this.The most equitable
way of dealing with bracket creep is to INDEX the lower thresholds to ensure
those on lower and middle incomes don’t end up paying proportionately
more.But progressively-sourced increases
in tax should not be ruled out.After
all, tax is necessary to pay for Medicare, schooling, roads and so on ; and a
National Aged Care Insurance Scheme could be funded via progressive tax ;
providing for the health, happiness and dignity of older Australians.Certainly sweeping Company Tax cuts amount to
‘corporate welfare’ ; where corporations fail to contribute fairly to the
infrastructure and services they benefit from ; and hence everyday taxpayers
are made to ‘pick up the tab’.

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Tristan's areas of expertise include Australian and world politics, social theory, education, history, and computer gaming for PC. He considers himself a liberal, and also a socialist, but has also referred to himself as a left social democrat. He says such - conscious that there was once a time when 'social democracy' and 'socialism' were synonymous. Furthermore, Tristan is a long-time member of the Australian Labor Party - specifically its Socialist Left wing. He is also involved in the Australian Fabian Society. Tristan has written for many publications - including a stint freelancing for 'The Canberra Times': the daily broadsheet of the Australian Capital. Tristan's Personal Homepage is here: http://sites.google.com/site/tristanewinsfreelancewriter